Preparations for Trump's visit to East Cobb Archives

Driving down Holt Road was uneventful Tuesday afternoon, about 24 hours before President Donald Trump’s visit to Wheeler High School.

Approaching Wheeler and Eastvalley Elementary School across the street, preparations were underway for the traffic, crowds and activities that will engulf the school campuses and surrounding neighborhoods.

Yellow fencing has been placed along the campus fronts of both schools, and traffic cones and other items used for traffic purposes are being laid out.

At the entrance to Club Valley Drive, directly across from the Wheeler gym, yellow tape has been placed along either side of the road.

In the parking lot of Eastvalley, Verizon equipment was being uploaded for television crews and other recording activities that accompany presidential visits.

In the bus lane at Wheeler, a row of portable toilets has been set up, and a food truck is parked near the entrance. A few workers were milling around in both parking lots, as was a Cobb County School District police car.

Trump’s visit comes less than two weeks before the start of the 2026-27 academic year in the Cobb school district. Teachers and staff have not yet reported to their campuses.

A Wheeler band camp has been relocated to the campus of East Cobb Middle School on Terrell Mill Road.

“We are also incredibly grateful to our Booster Board and the parent and community volunteers who moved instruments and equipment, set up scaffolding so our directors could see the drill, and lined the field for marching rehearsal.” according to a message on the band’s Facebook page.

Trump will be speaking in Wildcat Arena, the Wheeler gymnasium, starting at 3 p.m., according to an update from the White House Press Office. The ticketed event that’s open to the public will be filling up well before that, including local elected officials from the Cobb Board of Education.

Also expected to attend are Rick Jackson, Republican nominee for Georgia governor, and Mike Collins, Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate.

On-site parking will open around 8:30 a.m Wednesday and road closures will begin in the area starting at 12:30 p.m. East Cobb News has contacted the Cobb Police Department for details, but has not received a response.

The Cobb school district has spread its initial message about the Trump message through its Cobb Teaching and Learning System portal to school families.

“The visit provides an opportunity to showcase the academic excellence, exceptional educators, and high-achieving students that have made Cobb Schools a national leader in public education,” the district said.

But the district has not explained how the Trump visit was arranged, or why Wheeler was chosen. He is the third U.S. president or presidential candidate to visit a Cobb school campus, along with Georgie W. Bush (Harrison) and Barack Obama (McEachern).

Trump is expected to speak about child investment accounts and other legislation targeting affordability issues as the 2026 elections approach in November.

The Cobb County Democratic Committee and other liberal groups are planning protests near Wheeler.

The CCDC said Tuesday it will be having a “Trump Out of Cobb” rally at Eastvalley between 9-4. Indivisible Cobb, a liberal advocacy group that has organized No Kings rallies in East Cobb, will have a “base camp” at the Pavilions at East Lake shopping center (2100 Roswell Road) from 12-4.

The group also has set up shuttle service to Wheeler from Sedalia Park Elementary School and Eastside Baptist Church on Lower Roswell Road.

“No matter how much school leadership at the Cobb County School District tries to deny it, this is an event to boost the profiles of local and statewide Republicans in one of the state’s bluet counties,” the CCDC said in a statement Tuesday.

*A Cobb school district police car patrols Holt Road between the Wheeler and Eastvalley entrances Tuesday.*

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